Petunia-calibrachoa plant named ‘Kakegawa S91’

ABSTRACT

‘Kakegawa S91’ is a new  Petunia - Calibrachoa  hybrid particularly distinguished by having a terracotta (apricot with pinkish-red vein) flower color and a mounding growth habit.

Genus and species: Petunia-Calibrachoa Hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Kakegawa S91’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPetunia×calibrachoa hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivarname ‘Kakegawa S91’. It is characterized by having a bright terracotta(apricot with pinkish-red veins) flower color and mounding growth habit.The new cultivar originated from a hybridization in Kakegawa, Japan inMay of 2003. The male parent was a proprietary hybrid Calibrachoa linenamed ‘571-2’, which had a deep yellow flower color, medium flower sizeand a creeping plant habit. The female parent was a proprietary hybridPetunia line named ‘04H-73’, which had a light magenta flower color,medium flower size and mounding plant habit.

In May 2003, the new Petunia-Calibrachoa variety was developed using anintergeneric cross between a Petunia hybrid and a Calibrachoa hybridspecies. After crossing the parent lines, 1,320 ovules were removed fromflowers on the female parent and cultured by standard ovule culturetechniques. In December 2003, 6 intergeneric hybrid plantlets weretransplanted to soilless media for greenhouse culture andacclimatization.

In March 2004, 6 plants out of 6 hybrid lines were vegetativelypropagated to produce rooted cuttings. In April 2004, the 6 plants weretransplanted to an open field and evaluated for flower color and plantgrowth habit through July. In August 2004, ‘Kakegawa S91’ which has abright terracotta (apricot with pinkish-red vein) flower color andmounding plant growth habit was selected and vegetatively propagated. InSeptember 2004, 10 cuttings were evaluated in an open field throughNovember 2004. The selection subsequently was named ‘Kakegawa S91’ andfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Kakagawa, Japan.

-   -   1. Bright terracotta (apricot with pinkish-red vein) flower        color; and    -   2. A mounding plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Petunia-Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs of an 8-month-old plant which show the plant's form, foliageand flowers. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1. shows overall plant habit.

FIG. 2. shows the mature flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Kakegawa S91’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. The detailed description was taken from plants grownunder greenhouse conditions for approximately 8 months fromtransplanting of rooted cuttings. Color references are to the R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.),4^(th) Edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Petunia-Calibrachoa intergeneric hybrid.        -   Common name.—Petunia-Calibrachoa.-   Parentage:    -   -   Male.—Hybrid proprietary Calibrachoa plant line ‘571-2’.        -   Female.—Hybrid proprietary Petunia plant line ‘04H-73’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Form.—Decumbent, branching.        -   Habit.—Spreading.        -   Height.—18.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Spread.—70.0 cm to 80.0 cm.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—8 to 10 weeks.-   Environmental conditions for plant growth: The terminal 1.0 to 1.5    inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The vegetative    cuttings were propagated in four weeks. The base of the cuttings    were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1    solution:9 water) root inducing solution immediately prior to    sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell    trays having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based    growing medium. For the first week, the cuttings were misted with    water from overhead for 20 seconds, one time per hour. For the    second week, the cuttings were misted one time every 2 hours for 10    seconds. After that time, the cuttings were misted occasionally    until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were    transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass    greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat    moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20%    nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or    every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a    dry, slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus    and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem color.—RHS 144B (Yellow-green).        -   Anthocyanin color.—Slightly present on stems, RHS N77C            (Purple).        -   Pubescence.—Medium.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Stem description.—Round.        -   Stem diameter.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Stem length.—Approximately 2.0 cm from soil line to first            node.        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface.—Dull.        -   Surface pubescence.—Slight.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Length.—3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B (Green). Lower surface: RHS            138B (Green).        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Indeterminate.        -   Flower type.—Solitary.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as day length is            greater than 12 hours and temperature exceeds 13° C.        -   Duration of flowers.—5 days.        -   Corolla.—5 petals, fused.        -   Corolla shape.—The flowers are funnel shaped with five            fissures and a shallow, yet slight, indentation of the petal            tip at the midvein.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—RHS 149B (Yellow-green).        -   Peduncle.—Length: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower depth.—3.0 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—2.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—4.5 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Pedicel color.—RHS 144B (Yellow-green).        -   Calyx.—5 sepals fused below the middle.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Sepal color: RHS 137B (Green).        -   Petal.—Shape: Spatulate. Length: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm. Apex:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Limb            color: Upper surface: RHS 29A (Orange) with RHS N77A            (Purple) veins. Lower surface: RHS 29C (Orange) with RHS            149C (Yellow-green) veins.        -   Corolla tube color.—Inner: RHS 12A (Yellow) throat, inner            tube is RHS 12A (Yellow) with RHS N77A (Purple) veins.            Outer: RHS 12C (Yellow) with RHS N77A (Purple) veins.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—5, free.        -   Stamen color.—Anther color is RHS 1C (Green-yellow).            Filament color: RHS 1C (Green-yellow).        -   Pollen color.—RHS 9A (Yellow).        -   Ovary.—Superior.        -   Placenta arrangement.—Central.        -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil length.—1.5 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 149A (Yellow-green).        -   Style length.—0.5 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 149C (Yellow-green).-   Fruit/seed set: No fruit or seeds produced.-   Disease and insect resistance: ‘Kakegawa S91’ has excellent    resistance to rain, heat and drought. A temperature below 10° C. is    not optimal. Plants are susceptible to Botrytis, powdery mildew,    various stem and root rots, and certain viruses, like Tobacco Mosaic    Virus and Impatiens Necrotic Spotted Virus. Plants can be infested    with aphids, leafminer, whitefly and various Lepitopdera.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

Calibrachoa ‘Kakegawa S91’ is a distinct variety of Petunia-Calibrachoadue to its Terracotta (apricot with pinkish-red vein) flower color andmounding growth habit. ‘Kakegawa S91’ is distinguished from its parentsmainly by flower color and plant growth habit as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Female Parent: Male Parent: Characteristic ‘Kakegawa S91’‘04H-73’ ‘571-0’ Flower color Terracotta (Apricot Light magenta Deepyellow with dark pink vein) Plant growth habit Mounding MoundingCreeping

‘Kakegawa S91’ is a distinct variety of Petunia-Calibrachoa due to itsbright terracotta flower color and mounding growth habit. ‘Kakegawa S91’is most similar to the variety ‘Dancalipet’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,063); however, there are differences in the petal color and plantgrowth habit as described in the table below (color references are toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition):

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Kakegawa S91’ ‘Dancalipet’ Limb color, RHS 29A(Orange) with RHS RHS 74A (Red-purple) upper surface N77A (Purple) veinsLimb color, RHS 29C (Orange) with RHS RHS 75A (Purple) lower surface149C (Yellow-green) veins Plant growth Mounding Compact habit

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia-Calibrachoa hybrid plant asshown and described herein.